Rodding Radiator Survey

Domino

Domino

Senior Member
I have a plugged radiator and am considering having it rodded out but am hesitant because I was told that many times its just produces lots of leaks.
I would like to get some idea of the success rate in rodding out radiators Please share your experiences with me - basically have you had this done successfully or did it just cause leaks? If many have successfully done this it will make a difference in my decision. Thanks.
 
I have successfully rodded Model A radiators. However, there are some considerations one must take into account. If there were a lot of pin hole leaks going in, rodding will only make matters worse. EPA regulations have closed down a lot of old school shops and most techs only can use a plastic weld gun to R&R a core. Too, a lot of shops used to pinch off a tube and not worry about cooling. However, on an A radiator, that would look like crap.
 
Repeated success in the cleaning of Model A radiators may be compared to dental technicians cleaning teeth ...... some hurt and some do not ....... then, they all differ from office to office and from town to town.

For your particular area, maybe get telephone numbers of a few used car lots, or tractor dealers in your area where used dirty radiators are usually located on a used vehicle.

Then ask who would they recommend to clean vintage radiators.

The very last thing a used car business would appreciate is a radiator shop that hires anybody off of the street who screws up costly radiators ...... and/or ..... charges too much for a bum job.

Meeting with the technician with Model A radiator in hand, just ask if he feels comfortable performing this task ....... if he has gray hair or balding, it is a plus.

Hope this helps to not have to buy a new one.
 
Ive Had some rodded but then had the same ones recored due to holes from rodding.Truck radiator shops still do them for trucks,usually will do autos. Good Luck.
 
Unfortunately one cannot always tell how thin the walls of the tubes are. When rodding them out it is possible to split a tube. My opinion is that if all else fails then try rodding. Worst case toy need a new core, but if everything else did not work you need a new core.
 
Tom Endy recommended I have mine rodded many years ago, and at that time he knew an older gentlemen that used to have his own radiator shop, and then was doing them in his garage. I took my radiator out and took it to him. After it was done, he told that there were over 20 tubes totally clogged, and he was able to open all but a few. My car then ran much cooler, and has never overheated after that. You need someone very experienced to do that properly, without damaging the tubes, but it can be very worthwhile.
 
You can try filling it with lye for about 1/2 hour and back flush good. You may have to do it twice. Remove the radiator first and wear protective clothing and eye protection.
 
This isn't rodding but thru my 77 yrs I've used 1 part muriatic acid mixed w/ 8 (or less if you're brave enough) parts water w/ radiator removed , then flush in about an hour or sooner if the mixture is richer .
As mentioned above , success depends on radiator integrity .
Wear rubber gloves & don't inhale the straight acid & by all means don't use it on aluminum as it dissolves it .
This also works well removing aluminum from a steel cyl wall that has been scuffed by an over heated alum piston . Just carefully wipe on the acid being ready w/ a wet rag to remove it . Then oil the cyl .
 
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Two weeks running vinegar, followed by a four day soak in evaporust (out of the car and turning everyday to ensure total coverage) worked wonders for me.
Just be sure to neutralize the vinegar in the rad and block using dissolved baking soda, a full box or two should do it.
Flush the block real good too, after the vinegar when you pull the rad and turn it over, back flushing with the fill cap over a bucket, you will get tons of crap, the bucket catches the chunks so you can see it.
 
Just picked up my 31s Radiator Had the man put a new core in it the original was rotten to the core sorry could not pass up the crabby appleton jab. Any way The radiator Should be great. Oh yes the rad. was full of Acorn bits, when it was pulled apart. It was sealed all those years how do animals get in there?
 
This is my opinion ,. if you find a radiator shop that will rod it out for you
and do it right then that means one tank has to come off anyway ,., so I would
get it re cored while I was at it and not worry if it is old and rotten .,

Unless you are dealing with an old school shop these guys I dealt with
called putting the radiator in a heated vat for cleaning / rodding
When I said you have to take off a tank to rod they said oh we don't do that .,

If you are having trouble , save yourself some grief and go ahead and
core it ., and be done with it .,

.,
.,
 
I've had several rodded over the years with success. If you're in Southern California, try Toms radiator shop in the city of Orange. Good work, nice guys.
 
One (1) past, non-Model-A experience with a vintage radiator:

Have a (4) cylinder 1947 Farmall Cub Tractor that I acquired about 16 years ago.

This vintage model tractor has a radiator fan but no water pump; however, warmer water rises and circulates like that of a Model T Ford.

When I got it, it had a very minor leak in its "original" radiator; and when I saw radiator tubes were not very clean, I asked around for a very reliable radiator shop, removed radiator, and brought it to a one-man shop in a rural area.

Radiator gentleman did a marvelous job and carefully rodded it out for $40.00.

This (68) year old radiator still works great after being rodded out (16) years ago.
 
I use to repair radiators after people did this sort of thing to a radiator. Would have been so much easier and cheaper to bring it in first and have a "Qualified Radiatorman" look at it and figure what needed to be done. Instead of trying it yourself and ruining a good top tank and possible a radiator.
 
ronn said:
never rodded-but 2 months of vinegar has worked miracles................
Click to expand...

RonC said:
You can try filling it with lye for about 1/2 hour and back flush good. You may have to do it twice. Remove the radiator first and wear protective clothing and eye protection.
Click to expand...

Some go for acid (vinegar), and some go for an alkaline solution (lye). I'm a bit confused. Is acid the best choice if you think your blockage is due to rust, and an alkali best for dissolving grease?

If you don't know the cause of the blockage, should both treatments be applied, one after the other?
 
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